Getting tickets for the Stadio Olimpico in Rome is usually not a problem, not for the derby between Roma and Lazio either. But you'll also find a deep-rooted love for football in many other spots in Italy's beautiful capital.
The Stadio Olimpico is rich in history, but the stadium is not particularly popular. It's gigantic, but the running track and the not-so-steep stands make the stadium a bit impersonal and bleak as well. Furthermore, the stadium is almost never sold-out either, only for the derby the stadium gets really full.
Still, the famous Roman city is worth a visit. The curvas of both Roma and Lazio are loud and impressive, which gives the stadium a better atmosphere than you'd probably imagine. The stadium is also located in the giant Olympic Park of Rome, in the north of the city.
Take the time to walk through the sculpture gardens or along the Stadio dei Marmi, a monumental athletics stadium. The sports history is up for grabs here.
The surroundings of the Stadio Olimpico are not particularly atmospheric. The Olympic Park is so big that the closest bars are hundreds of meters away. Still, you can have good fun at the banks of the Tiber, which flows east of the stadium. There are a couple of bars where fans calmly have a drink before matches. Molo Zero is our favourite, a trendy cocktailbar. Also nice is Giardini Dell'Eden, but both bars are not typical football bars.
The most fun area of Rome has its own football team as well. Trastevere Calcio is a product of several amateur teams, one of them the small club where Francesco Totti made his first steps on the pitch (AS Santa Maria in Trastevere). His member card is proudly shown in the offices of Stadio Vittorio Bachelet, a charming complex at the western edge of Trastevere. Worth a visit, and ideal to combine with the many bars and restaurants nearby.
Unlike cities such as London or Buenos Aires, Rome doesn't have tens of stadiums, but the football shops make up for that. Both Lazio and AS Roma have several club shops and fan stores, spread throughout the entire city. Near the Vatican, on the Via Ottaviano, is a nice one for those who like AS Roma the most. The most beautiful Lazio store is on Piazza di San Silvestro.
For both Roman clubs, it's easy to get tickets. The Stadio Olimpico is rarely sold-out. Even at the massive Derby della Capitale between the arch-rivals, tickets tend to go on general sale, as always via the club that officially plays at home.
Do you visit an evening fixture in the Stadio Olimpico? Make sure you arrange your transport for after the game in advance, for example, a pre-ordered taxi. Your hotel might be able to help you with that. The public transport in this part of the town isn't really good, especially late in the evening.
Images: Shutterstock, BSR Agency
